One of the engineering marvels of the 20th century, the St. Lawrence Seaway lifts ocean-going ships through a staircase of locks across the Canada-U.S. border — a dramatic transit best watched from the bow with a coffee in hand.
There is no shore call at the Seaway itself — it is a transit passage, not a port.
💡 Pro move: Most St. Lawrence itineraries combine this transit with calls at Montreal, Quebec City, Kingston, or the Thousand Islands — check your itinerary for those individual stops.
There are no cruise piers on the Seaway itself; ships transit the locks while underway.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| All cruise lines | St. Lawrence Seaway locks (Eisenhower, Snell, Iroquois, etc.)📍 | Docked |
| Small expedition ships | May call at Kingston, Brockville, or Morrisburg en route📍 | Docked |
Shore excursions happen at the ports flanking the Seaway — Quebec City, Montreal, Kingston, and the Thousand Islands.
Stake out the bow or upper deck for the full lock transit — the ship squeezes into chambers barely wider than the hull, and the water rises rapidly around you.
Explore St. Lawrence cruises →September and October transforms the riverbanks into a blaze of reds, oranges, and yellows — some of the finest autumn colour in North America viewed from the water.
Find fall foliage cruises →From Kingston, take a boat tour through 1,800+ islands and visit the grand Rhineland-style Boldt Castle on Heart Island (U.S. waters — bring your passport).
Find Thousand Islands tours →Ships dock in the Old Port, steps from cobblestone streets, Notre-Dame Basilica, and the best smoked meat sandwich on the continent at Schwartz's Deli.
Find Montreal shore excursions →North America's only walled city is a short walk from the pier — stroll Quartier Petit Champlain, Dufferin Terrace, and La Citadelle for 400 years of French-Canadian history.
Find Quebec City tours →The Seaway is a transit — walking happens at the ports along the route.
Walk the outer decks from bow to stern as the ship transits a lock — each vantage point gives a different perspective of the lock walls, water level rising, and the industrial machinery at work.
📍 Open in MapsUpcoming cruises that call at St. Lawrence Seaway, Ontario/Quebec, Canada/USA. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.